Diego Maradona lifts Celtic Park stadium ball boy Adam Brown after he found a necklace Maradona lost during a training session at Celtic Park. Photograph: DAVID MOIR/REUTERS

Paradise found, rather than Paradise lost, proved pertinent as DiegoMaradona tonight stepped onto a Scottish football pitch for the first timein 28 years.

The new Argentina manager made a young lad very happy, 13-year-old Adam Brown discovering a gold medallion on the Celtic Park turf which had earlier been misplaced by the Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Gago. Maradona had led an extensive 10-minute search of the pitch having brought a training session to a close half an hour early; he cuddled Brown, a Celtic youth-team player before handing the youngster his hat and gloves in recognition of his efforts.

"He just said thank you to me," said Brown. "I will probably frame the hatand gloves."

Maradona had earlier overseen his first training efforts as Argentinamanager, during which he was nowhere near as animated as in its' aftermath. The former playmaker left his coaching staff to control the low-key, hour-long workout, which culminated in a 10-a-side match.

A message adorning Parkhead's giant screens and electronic advertising boards read: "Celtic welcomes Diego Maradona and the team of Argentina to paradise" in advance of training. Maradona will also take his players through their paces tomorrow, at Hampden Park, before the friendly international with Scotland on Wednesday.

Security beyond any level, even for training visits from the likes of Barcelona to Glasgow on Champions League business, preceded the session. Journalists who arrived without formal identification were turned away. The battalion who got into the main stand - more than 100 - ranged from representing Fox Sports in the United States to Al Jazeera. Maradona, just as in his playing days, represents big news.

He chatted briefly and sporadically with his players, calling a team meeting in the centre circle to begin. Passing drills followed before Maradona turned referee to take charge of a keenly contested match. Javier Mascherano's positioning was among the more noteworthy, the Liverpool midfielder deployed in a more advanced role than accustomed to at Anfield. Shrill whistles to greet each goal aside, Maradona cut a peripheral figure thereafter. His voice could be heard throughout the stadium though, words of encouragement seemingly offered to his charges.

Gaga's team-mates briefly took part in the medallion search, departing thereafter and ignoring the trays of fruit, coffee and energy drinks which had been placed in the tunnel for their benefit. Only Carlos Tevez took advantage, devouring oranges in double quick time. Maradona had more important matters on his mind, scouring the surface for a trace of gold. Given that he found it, Brown will remember what followed for the rest of his life. Few Scottish youngsters can claim to have been hoisted into the air by the Hands of God, after all.